CranioSacral System additional Flashcards
Describe the Dura Mater or Dural Membrane or Dural Meningeal layers
include their names and how they are shaped:
The dura mater, or dural membrane, is a tough, fluid-proof membrane with very little elasticity.
The shape of the inner (or deep) dura mater layer is formed by the hydraulic pressure of the CSF. The inner layer continues via intra-cranial dural reflections into the spinal canal to become the spinal dura mater.
The superficial or outer periosteal or endosteal dura mater layer is sculpted by its adherence to the inner surface of the skull and its osseus attachment points.
The dura mater functions to protect the central nervous system from mechanical damage and acts as the main boundary for containing the craniosacral system.
Evaluation and Treatment of the Craniosacral System:
How is this done, with what applications to what structures?
“By application of very gentle traction or lifting forces.”
Determine restrictions or barriers to free movement between:
1. Cranial bones or (osseus restrictions) - rigid
&/or
2. within the craniosacral Dural Membrane (membranous restrictions) - elastic
Do the dural membrane layers adhere exactly to each other throughout the CSS?
No.
These dural layers adhere closely to each other except where the inner or meningeal layer folds on itself deep into the cranium, to form the vertical and horizontal membrane system.
The inner and outer dural membrane layers also part to form the dural venous sinuses.
What is the function of the dural venous sinuses?
How are they formed?
Dural venous sinuses are venous channels located intracranially between the two layers of the dura mater (endosteal layer and meningeal layer)
They are valveless, allowing for bidirectional blood flow from and into intracranial veins.
Together the dural venous sinuses form the major drainage pathways from the brain, predominantly to the internal jugular veins.
What is the difference between the 3 layers of the intracranial membrane system and the 3 intracranial membrane structures or components?
The 3 layers are the dura mater, the arachnoid membrane and the pia mater.
The 3 structures or components, also known as divisions of the free craniosacral dural membrane are:
the falx cerebri, the falx cerebelli and the tentorium cerebelli
What are the physiological functions of the intracranial vertical and horizontal membrane systems?
The physiological functions of these membrane structures are:
to support the hemispheres of the brain,
to separate and allow space to the divisions of the brain and
to form the housing structure for the venous sinus system within the cranium.
What are the names and positions of the intracranial vertical and horizontal membrane systems?
The superior vertical membrane is called the falx cerebri and separates the right and left hemispheres of the cerebrum.
The inferior vertical intracranial membrane separates the hemispheres of the cerebellum and is called the falx cerebellum.
The horizontal intracranial dural membrane is called the tentorium cerebellum. It divides the cerebellum from the cerebrum.
What are the attachment points of the superior vertical intracranial membrane structure?
The falx cerebri attaches anteriorly to the internal vertical midline of the frontal bone, the crista galli of the ethmoid bone and the ethmoid notch of the frontal bone.
Its posterior attachments are to the internal occipital protuberance and vertical line of the occipital bone.
The superior aspect of the falx cerebri attaches to the undersurface of the frontal, parietal and occipital bones along the midline and beneath the sagittal suture.
Inferiorly it has a membranous attachment to the tentorium cerebelli.
Where is the saggital venous sinus and what structure forms it?
The sagittal venous sinus is formed by the folds of the falx cerebri.
The superior sagittal sinus is within the enfoldments along the sagittal suture attachments.
The inferior sagittal sinus is formed at the posterior 1/2 to 2/3 of the inferior free border of the falx cerebri. It is joined by the great vein of Galen and drains into the straight sinus.
Where is the straight sinus and what is its function?
The straight sinus is situated at the line of the junction of the falx cerebri with the tentorium cerebelli. After a descending course, it terminates at the internal occipital protuberance, usually emptying into the left transverse sinus.
It receives venous blood flow from the great vein of Galen and superior cerebellar veins, thus participating in the deep venous drainage.
This is a membranous attachment, and the only superior attachment of the falx cerebelli.
